Golf club construction

ABSTRACT

The inner sleeve joining the shaft of the golf club to the head projects but a small distance beyond the head and an outer sleeve of relatively stiff flexible materials forms in effect an extension of the inner sleeve and snugly embraces the shaft well beyond the inner sleeve. In this way, the shaft is allowed to flex along a greater extent of its length then would otherwise be possible.

United States Patent John D. Risher 127 Bonnet! St, SW, North Canton, Ohio 44720 [211 App]. No. 767,220

[22] Filed Oct. 14, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] GOLF CLUB CONSTRUCTION 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 273/802, 287/20 [51 Int. Cl A63b 53/02 [50] Field ofSearch 273/77, 80.2, 80.8, 167, (Ethylene Digest), 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,232 1/1927 Pryde et a1 273/804 1,980,408 1 1/1934 Jansky 273/803 2,015,253 9/1935 Buhrke et al, 273/802 3,169,020 2/1965 Smith, (273/ Ethylene Digest) Des. 97,418 11/1935 Smith, 034 5 1,202,383 10/1916 Hardman.. 273/802 1,249,127 12/1917 Lard 273/803 1,553,867 9/1925 Maas...

1,994,149 3/1935 Ro0t....,

2,201,638 5/1940 Theibault 3,199,872 10/1965 Taylor Primary ExaminerGeorge .1. Mario Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Imirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: The inner sleeve joining the shaft of the golf club to the head projects but a small distance beyond the head and an outer sleeve of relatively stiff flexible materials forms in effect an extension of the inner sleeve and snugly embraces the shaft well beyond the inner sleeve. [n this way, the shaft is allowed to flex along a greater extent of its length then would otherwise be possible.

mama) m m STIFF YET FLEXIBLE ELASTONERIO IATERIAL SUCH AS POLYETHELYNE OR THE LIKE INVENTOR JOHN D. RISHER ATTORNEYS GOLF CLUB CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gold club constructions of the type generally known as woods" conventionally employ an interconnection between the gold club head and the shaft which joins the shaft to the head and extends a substantial distance upwardly along the lower end of the shaft. Because of this, the lower end of the shaft has very little, if any, flexibility and the power with which a golf ball may be struck with such a club correspondingly suffers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Greater striking or hitting power is imparted to a golf ball according to the present invention by utilizing a connecting means between the golf club head and the golf club shaft wherei'ri the inner sleeve which directly connects the shaft to the head projects but a very little distance above the head whereas a relatively stiff but flexible sleeve (made of applicable elastomeric material) surrounds and snugly embraces the projecting portion of the inner sleeve and effectively fonns an extension thereof which, at its upper extremity, snugly embraces the shaft. The outer sleeve imparts sufficient rigidigying effect upon the lower end of the shaft to prevent inordinate stress concentration in the shaft at the juncture between the shaft and the inner sleeve while at the same time allowing the corresponding lower end portion of the shaft to flex to a substantial greater degree than is permitted by ordinary consttuctions, thus imparting greater snap or power when the golf club head strikes the associated golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a club constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the club as shown'in FIG. I and illustrating the principles of the preset invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the outer sleeve is engaged with the inner sleeve; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now more particularly to FIG. I, a golf club head I is attached to the usual shaft 12 by interconnecting means or housel 14 which joins the lower end of the shaft 12 to the head lltl. The interconnecting means 14 comprises an inner sleeve 22 and an outer sleeve 30, FIGS. 24. The head 110 has a flat inclined surface or face 16 which merges smoothly with the generally horizontal upper face 17 of the head and, as shown in FIG. 2, a bore 18 extends through the head perpendicularly to the face 16 and includes a counterbore 1% in the upper portion thereof opening through the face lb. The bottom of the head is covered by the usual metal plate 19 which also closes the bottom of the bore. The lower end of the shaft 12 extends into the bore 18 to the bottom thereof flush with the bottom plate 19 and the counterbore 18' receives the lower reduced end portion 20 of the inner sleeve 22 which snugly surrounds the shaft 12.

The inner sleeve 22 includes an enlarged upper end portion 24 projecting upwardly beyond the club head 10 and having an inner end wall 25 extending radially from the reduced-portion 20 and seated firmly on the face I6. The inner house] or sleeve 22 and the lower end of the shaft 12 are secured to the surface l6, counterbore 118 and bore 18 respectively, by a suitable adhesive such, for example, as an epoxy cement. To insure against stress failure of the joint between the head, shaft and inner house], a cross-pin, dowel or screw 27 may be inserted into the head and through the shaft and inner house], preferably perpendicular to the shaft axis and diametrically through the shaft 12 and inner housel reduced portion 20.

The enlarged head portion 24 of the inner sleeve 22 is relatively short so that its upper face 26 is quite close to the face 16 of the club head 10 and the line of juncture 28 between the lower end of the shaft I2 and the inner sleeve assembly 22 is located quite close to the club head 10. The lower end of the shaft 12 si secured by any suitable conventional means within the inner sleeve 22. Usually, the bore of the inner sleeve 22 is tapered to fit a corresponding taper at the lower extremity of the shaft 12 and the two are interengaged with an intervening layer of adhesive material so as to effect a more or less permanent interconnection between the lower extremity of the shaft 12, the inner sleeve assembly 22, and the head It).

To prevent inordinate strews concentration at the line of juncture 28, the outer sleeve 30, formed of relatively stiff but flexible elastomeric material such as polyethylene or the like, includes a lower portion 32 which snugly engages or is otherwise substantially rigid with the enlarged head 24 of the inner sleeve 22, and the upper extremity 34 which snugly engages the shaft 12 at a point or region well beyond the juncture line 28. The intermediate portion 36 of the outer sleeve 30 is free from contact with the shaft 12 and defines a free space 38, FIG. 2. Thus, the outer sleeve 30 strengthens the joint between the head 10 and shaft 12 but permits limited flexing of the shaft 12 within the space 38 between the upper ends of the respecting sleeves. The enlarged head portion 24 of the inner sleeve 22 is provided with a circumferential groove 40 to aid in securing a substantially rigid interconnection between the lower portion 32 of the outer sleeve 30 and the enlarged head portion 24 of the inner sleeve 22. To effect this interconnection, the inner surface of the outer sleeve 30 may be provided with a corresponding groove and the two grooves filled with an adhesive material. Alternatively, the inner surface of the outer sleeve 30 may be provided with an inwardly projected rib 42 which snaps into the circumferential groove all in the enlarged head portion 24. To facilitate assembly of the two sleeves, the upper end of the inner sleeve 22 is provided with a chamfer or lead angle 29 surrounding the upper surface 26 and the outer sleeve 30 is provided at its lower end with a similar chamfer or lead angle 31 within the lower surface 46.

Preferably, the rib 42 is, as shown in FIG. 4, of tapering cross section with a corresponding taper in the groove 40 with the rib 42 being spaced from the end edge &6 of the outer sleeve 30 such that when the two sleeves are interengaged, as shown in FIG. 4, the interengagement between the tapered rib 42 and the tapered groove 40 will, along the angular lines 48, force the end edge 46 of the outer sleeve 30 against the surface or face 16 of the club head 10. This not only serves to prevent an unsightly gap from forming between the lower extremity of the outer sleeve 3t) and the club head .10, but also tends more securely to fix or engage the outer sleeve 30 relative to the enlarged head portion 24 of the inner sleeve 22.

In addition to the effect previously mentioned wherein the outer sleeve 30 prevents the inordinate concentration of stress at the line of juncture 28 between the shaft 12 and the inner sleeve assembly 22, the aforementioned construction allows ready replacement of a shaft 12 in the event it becomes damaged or broken and the construction also permits the finishing, weighting and balancing operations to be performed on the head before ultimate final assembly. This can be appreciated by reference to FIG. 3 wherein it will be seen that on initially assembling the shaft 12 to the head It), the proper taper and adhesive interconnection is made between the lower extremity of the shaft and the inner sleeve 22, the outer sleeve 3t) being forced up the shaft 12 a distance sufficient to clear the inner sleeve 22. With the outer sleeve 30 still in this position, the final finishing, weighting and balancing operations are performed on the head 10 and when all operations are completed, the outer sleeve 30 is forced down along the shaft 112, over the enlarged head 24 and into snap-fitted engagement therewith, thereby completing the assembly of the club. The relatively stiff but flexible nature of the outer sleeve Bill is imparted thereto by virtue of the fact that the material from lclaim: l. A wood-type golf club comprising a head, shaft and means operatively connecting said sahdt and head, said head comprising a toe, heel and sole portions, a top surface opposite said sole portion and a hitting surface therebetween:

said top surface having a generally inclined generally flat mounting surface above said heel portion, said mounting surface being continuous from said top surface, and a shaft bore substantially normal to said mounting surface and extending toward said sole portion, said shaft bore inlcuding an upper counterbore communicating with said mounting surface;

a first inner sleeve circumjacent to an intermediate portion of said shaft and generally complimentary to said counterbore in which it is disposed;

said first sleeve including an enlarged upper portion overlying said mounting surface and in engagement therewith and a second sleeve circumposed about said enlarged upper portion of said first sleeve and lockingly engaged therewith; and

said second sleeve having its lower end engaging said mounting surface and its upper end extending above said first sleeve enlarged portion and generally merging into the outer surface of the shaft.

2. A wood-type golf club comprising a head, shaft and means operatively connecting said shaft and head:

said head including toe, heel, sole and top surfaces with a hitting surface therebetwcen;

said top surface including a generally flat inclined mounting surface continuous from said top surface and above said heel;

said heel including a bore extending through said mounting surface and extending toward said sole, said means connecting said shaft and head comprising a pair of telescoped sleeves secured about an intermediate portion of said shaft, said shaft extending into said bore, an innermost one of said sleeves depending into said bore, and

above said mounting surface and including anenlarged portion generally engaging said mounting surface, the other sleeve being connected to said enlarged portion and having a lower end engaging said mounting surface and an upper end connected to said enlarged portion and generally merging into said shaft.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 including mechanical lock means extending transversely'through said head and intermediate portions of said inner sleeve and shaft within said bore.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said bore includes a counterbore communicating with said mounting surface and within which said inner sleeve depends, said bore extending to said sole and being terminally angled thereat, and a sole plate overly and covering said sole at said bore.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said sleeves include mechanically interlocked portions securing the sleeves in assembled relation on said shaft.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said mechanical interlocked portions comprise rib-and-groove portions on respective opposed portions of said sleeves.

7. The structure asclaimed in claim 2 in which said second sleeve is relatively thin and flexible and defines an inner, hollow tapered space with the outer surface of said shaft said second sleeve generally converging into the outer surface of the shaft at the upper end thereof for equalizing shaft-stresses when a blow is struck with the club.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said second sleeve includes a depending skirt portion extending toward and substantially engaging said mounting surface below the connection with said enlarged ortion.

9. The structure as clalme in claim 2 including 8djSlV6 means retaining said shaft, head and sleeves in assembled relation.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said enlarged portion and the lower end of said second sleeve include cooperating chamfered portions facilitating assembly and repair of said club.

11. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said innermost sleeve and shaft include complimentary tapered portions within said head bore to snuggly assemble the sleeve and shaft in said shaft bore. 

1. A wood-type golf club comprising a head, shaft and means operatively connecting said sahdt and head, said head comprising a toe, heel and sole portions, a top surface opposite said sole portion and a hitting surface therebetween: said top surface having a generally inclined generally flat mounting surface above said heel portion, said mounting surface being continuous from said top surface, and a shaft bore substantially normal to said mounting surface and extending toward said sole portion, said shaft bore inlcuding an upper counterbore communicating with said mounting surface; a first inner sleeve circumjacent to an intermediate portion of said shaft and generally complimentary to said counterbore in which it is disposed; said first sleeve including an enlarged upper portion overlying said mounting surface and in engagement therewith and a second sleeve circumposed about said enlarged upper portion of said first sleeve and lockingly engaged therewith; and said second sleeve having its lower end engaging said mounting surface and its upper end extending above said first sleeve enlarged portion and generally merging into the outer surface of the shaft.
 2. A wood-type golf club comprising a head, shaft and means operatively connecting said shaft and head: said head including toe, heel, sole and top surfaces with a hitting surface therebetween; said top surface including a generally flat inclined mounting surface continuous from said top surface and above said heel; said heel including a bore extending through said mounting surface and extending toward said sole, said means connecting said shaft and head comprising a pair of telescoped sleeves secured about an intermediate portion of said shaft, said shaft extending into said bore, an innermost one of said sleeves depending into said bore, and above said mounting surface and including anenlarged portion generally engaging said mounting surface, the other sleeve being connected to said enlarged portion and having a lower end engaging said mounting surface and an upper end connected to said enlarged portion and generally merging into said shaft.
 3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 including mechanical lock means extending transversely through said head and intermediate portions of said inner sleeve and shaft within said bore.
 4. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said bore includes a Counterbore communicating with said mounting surface and within which said inner sleeve depends, said bore extending to said sole and being terminally angled thereat, and a sole plate overly and covering said sole at said bore.
 5. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said sleeves include mechanically interlocked portions securing the sleeves in assembled relation on said shaft.
 6. The structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said mechanical interlocked portions comprise rib-and-groove portions on respective opposed portions of said sleeves.
 7. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said second sleeve is relatively thin and flexible and defines an inner, hollow tapered space with the outer surface of said shaft said second sleeve generally converging into the outer surface of the shaft at the upper end thereof for equalizing shaft-stresses when a blow is struck with the club.
 8. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said second sleeve includes a depending skirt portion extending toward and substantially engaging said mounting surface below the connection with said enlarged portion.
 9. The structure as claimed in claim 2 including adjesive means retaining said shaft, head and sleeves in assembled relation.
 10. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said enlarged portion and the lower end of said second sleeve include cooperating chamfered portions facilitating assembly and repair of said club.
 11. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said innermost sleeve and shaft include complimentary tapered portions within said head bore to snuggly assemble the sleeve and shaft in said shaft bore. 